Flamingo

Another tiny one..made for a neighbor. However, one of the other neighbors at the dinner took it home so I'll be doing another one tonight for the first neighbor. It was a great Christmas, surrounded by good friends, good humor, and good food. A very "kind" holiday.

The Crow and the Golden Retriever

I'm still experimenting with the Howlite rock. The Golden Retriever is only about an inch in diameter and the crow is under three inches. The crow's name is Marvin. When I had the store, we used to feed them and several  seagulls. The crows were a distinct family unit and Marvin was a big, gorgeous bird with eyebrows. He had rainbows in his feathers, sort of like an oil slick and everyone treated him with respect. I watched him smack a seagull (and the western gulls are big here) into the ground and tap dance on his/her head. I miss him since the store is gone. There were three seagulls we could recognize, Caca Zabor (mean and nasty, liked to bite other birds and pull feathers), Gabby Hayes (never stopped making comments), and Robert Gullet (ate a mini muffin and you could see it in his throat.

The crow is sold.

Parker on Marble

I'm really liking playing with this stuff...here's my next piece. For some strange reason, I cannot get it to lighten to what it actually is so I may do another photo in the morning in natural light. I experimented with some color this time and discovered I can scratch it. I don't know if I can treat it like scrimshaw yet, maybe some of the darker pieces. It is available.

Kale on Marble

A neighbor and friend gifted me with some slabs. She showed me what she had done with them. I've been very intrigued but trying to stay with the straight and narrow. However, I couldn't help myself and did a small piece. I have another experiment scheduled to today that's going to be about the same size or slightly smaller....I'm going for color this time. Done with a very fine point ink quill, I present to you...my brilliantly titled "Kale", cause that's what it is, not roses. This piece is three inches by three inches at it's longest points. At this point it is for sale, but I don't think I could get it shipped anywhere in a timely manner...it could be a late gift though. e-mail me at obedec@gmail.com.

The Pelican

A conch (konk, in oregonese) painted. I've been planning this for a while and I LIKE it. It is available for sale. Sorry, it's sold. But I'll be doing more.

A Force to be Reckoned With

A very common resident here on the coast. A Juvenile Western Gull. These guys are big, and they have attitude. Sometimes not the smartist or most opportunistic, but the youngsters are gorgeous with the speckles and markings. It gives them character.

Cheka's Aussie

Cheka wants an extreme close-up...very soft, but emphasizing the ice blue eyes. I think I've got it...it takes a lot to turn scratchboard soft, so I scratched the whole thing in detail, and now, using ink and a fiberglass brush, he's becoming soft.

Bemused

I had some leftover sections of board, so I cut them in sort of an atc size. There'd been a series of photos on WC of the Gypsy Vanner stallion called Percy. I've got artwork to do but decided to go ahead and mess with one of his photos.  I started scratching it out, but it just wasn't working. I dug around and found a fiberglass brush and voila, there was the horse....on black. It was yucky. So, I scraped the whole background off. Well, plain white was no better than plain black. I hunted down my paints. Suddenly, I really liked it. It turned into one of those "bemused" pieces, i.e., did I do that? Yep, I sure did.

This one is available, and I'll probably frame it in a few minutes. E-mail me for details at obedec@gmail.com

Almost done

Just got to put some shading back in, and then rescratch the areas so it looks real.

Update

It looks like a pretty nasty storm coming in today so I'll spend the rest of the day working on this and organizing my job hunting paperwork. It's a shame that jobs are so scarce that the employers can pick and choose all their relatives or those who put out over competent workers. There's easily over a hundred applicants for each job. Sigh. I'm focusing on making my art sell, weird idea, but I don't seem to have a choice.

Anyway, here's the latest update. I hope to have her finished today so better get to it.

Another Update

Here's what I worked on last night.

Next Work in Progress

Here she is, I think the neck/chest area is done for the moment. I will be going back and correcting the shading.

Golden Retriever

I've had a busy summer, but alas, the winter is here and I'm out of work. So, I've focused on the Holday Markets and I've made a whopping $10, which I promptly spent on great coffee from Old River Coffee (try it, he's got a web site), and great bakery goods, so much for the bologna sandwich I brought, eh?

Anyway, while I was at the last market, one of the vendors brought in her Golden Retriever. Not a Classic Show Dog but a very lovely girl with a wonderful personality. She was young, but a very sincere dog that wants to do everything right.  I had my camera and took some reference photos. Well, I had to start her. I have three or four other pieces to finish, but this one caught my interest. If it turns out nice enough, I may enter it at Art Show at the Dog Show (like, where do I find the entry fee), or just put it up for sale. I'll also have prints available.

I have lots of projects today, so I'd better get this posted.

Bookmarks

I took my prototype bookmarks to a few people I know....got rave reviews. Photos soon, have to work on some more. Stay tuned!

Cat In a Box

I entered an artist blog contest to get a 5x7 portrait done....I won!!! Stay tuned, Red should appear soon on a screen near you.

I worked on the landlord's lawn today. What a nightmare. The grass was waist high. I had to use my weekwacker through all of it, then rake, then mow. It still needs more work, but looks much much better.

Back to work tomorrow!

Fudge Slinging

One of the jobs performed at the aquarium gift shop is selling fudge. I have a knack for it and enjoy luring people over to try a superb product. The other day, I wrote a poem about it. Just for fun.

Slinging fudge could be a drudge
Unless you're at the Aquarium
Employees sell with glee
But only at the Aquarium
No pouts or sulks, just smiles you see
From employees
Who sell Fudge
At the Aquarium
So come and see,
The employees
who sell the Fudge
At the aquarium

The trills of birdies
The glimpse of squirrellies
All pale, next
To the employees
Who sell the Fudge
At the Aquarium

They sell Ice Cream
But those held in Esteem
Are the Smiling Employees
Who sell the Fudge
At the Aquarium

The Lunch Meat

My neighbor and friend looks after my dogs when I'm working. (Yeah!!! I have a job!!!!). Anyway, this is a missive she left me the other day. I love her writing and wish she would do more.

Karen:








Your sandwich meat is no longer edible. Though I did manage to salvage a bit of it.

The event happened this way:







I got the boys out for a potty break and then went into the living room to read so

they could have some out of the crate time. It was very quiet, I soon noticed. As

a parent, I learned early on that too much quiet is probably a problem. I called

Paker and he did not respond. I put down my book and went to the kitchen. He had

the package of sandwich meat in his mouth and was trying with all his effort to eat

the sandwich meat, package and all. Red was observing.







I grabbed Parker by the nape and told him to drop it. He clamped his teeth down on

the package and gulped trying to swallow it before he had to really drop it. I

reaffirmed my grasp of the nape and tried with the other hand to prize his mouth

open. The harder I pried the more clamped his teeth became. I kept prying and

telling him to drop it, but it was not very effective because by now I was

giggling and nearly wetting my pants. Red was observing.







Finally I got a little bit of the meat out of Parker's mouth and it dropped to the

floor. Red ceased observing at this point and lunged for the scrap of meat. Parker

let go the package and lunged for the scrap, too. By then there were several scraps

of the meat on the floor and both boys were sucking the scraps up as fast as they

could.







When the scraps were all eaten and what remained of the package of sandwich meat was

put out of harm's way. Red walked regally over to his crate and got in. Parker

looked around for more scraps and then looked around for what was left of the

package. I assured him that (1) there was no more sandwich meat for him and (2) I

was definitely telling on him. During this conversation, Red was observing from his

crate. His halo firmly in place.







Parker cruised the counter top a bit longer --- hopefully, no doubt --- I told him

to leave it and he came into the living room and lay down on the skins and went to

sleep. Obviously tired after that struggle.







At any rate you have no more lunch meat, unless you are into eating the shards.

New Business Card

A photographer I know took this picture at a recent show we were at together. I absolutely love it and think it will be perfect as my new business card. I had just created another which was a small montage of my work and a photo of me in the middle, but I think this one says it better.

Silver Scratchboard Continued

The Wolf didn't come through.
Both of these are available for purchase. Please contact me at obedec@gmail.com

Silver Scratchboard

 This is a fun toy, but I just cannot take it seriously although I remember one time doing a silver English Cocker with a brushed aluminum frame...it was extreme dramatic. However, I'm just feeling the need to do something and am working on a complicated board right now, so whipped these two up in the last two days, they don't take long at 21/2 x 3 1/2inches and it's very hard to make the shaded so I don't try, I let the lighting do the work.
Best
Karen

16th Century Canvas

Today I was able to get up close and personal to a 16th century canvas. I've never looked at an oil portrait so closely. The depth was spectacular. The individual that was painted had the most beautiful eyes. On close examination, you could tell that the hands were done by two different people. The right one was a good size for the body and face, the left was deformed and smaller. The feet were also too small.  It's covered with a lot of dirt and grime, but at one time was a beautiful piece of work. I'll dream about those eyes tonight.

The Princess Dress Finished

I think I'm calling her done.

The Princess Dress

A different piece for me. I really liked the drama and swirl of the dress.

Procrastination. Prespiration, and Presentation

> The room was lovely and crafters and artists were allowed to take whatever spots they wanted. Lighting and visibility were perfect for any of them. You backed onto windows which, in the evening with the reflection, showed you how big your butt is, or how many rolls you have, and how messy you may or may not have been behind the drapes of the table, total exposure. There were volunteers there to help if you needed someone to watch your table while you ran out for a minute. Parking was a dream.


>

> I made business cards, forgot the holder. I made a little flyer, did not proof (last minute you know), and left out a crucial word. They did not get put on the table when I spotted that. I dressed very nice, wore make up, curled hair. Got there way too late, should have probably been there an hour earlier (was busy make business cards and bad flyers).

>

> A few things I forgot....change, cash box, credit card machine, bags, guest book, receipt book. I did bring a piece that was almost finished and finished him in about 15 minutes. So, since I work mostly in scratchboard, I basically engaged customers by taking a poll as to whether he should have color added or not. (It's a singing kitten and would have colored eyes, nose and tongue). The border collie picture got a lot of discussion too. I did work my conversation skills on the very limited audience, yet an audience that was there specifically for pet portraits. I did not get names, addresses, promises of future work or commissions.

>

> I berated myself all the way home, did the "get out of art conversation", "you should have been prepared conversation", but one thing I did not doubt, what I had there WAS beautiful work. I donated a t-shirt that I've never been able to sell and it was bought.

>

> So, this morning, in the harsh light of day, I say to myself, did I enjoy myself...yes, was I prepared...no. But I have a two day show coming up next weekend...will this all be rectified...most of it, and will I have a better handle on things, you bet, I'm still smarting from this one.

Another White Board

This board is near and dear to my heart. It's of Red, aka Merrydown Mr. Persistence, CD, CGC, my current heart dog. I was thrilled on the 20th because he was 12 years old and I thought, cancer free. I took him in today and his cancer has come back. It also looks like it has metastasized to his lungs. He's doing fine at the moment and the vet says he can do lazer surgery to get the bulk of the tumor burned off. I'm opting for pallative care. I didn't know this when I started the picture, was just doing a batch for boutique for the National, guess I have to start over because I don't know if this picture will leave me. It's only a 5x5, done on white ampersand claybord using derwent Inktense colored pencils, graphitint pencils and watercolor pencils.
Karen

Outside the Box

It's a new year. I'm thinking outside the box in a way to get funds in and my sweet, smiling face out there. I have several ideas for art and put one of them onto clayboard the last two evenings. Here is my ATC sized elephant (2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches) on a white claybord (it's still a scratchboard) using graphitint pencils. I have more ATCs to put up also, later, after I cut them (I used a big board) so stay tuned.

New Year's Resolutions

I did my New Year's Resolutions differently this year. My neighbor, Linda, no longer drives so I take her wherever she wants to go. On Sunday's we do the grocery store in Newport. It's about 20 miles away. For the drive, we take a notebook and discuss ideas, and plans. So, I broke up my New Year's resolution to, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. My weekly goal is to do three atcs (artist trading cards 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches). I finished my three tonight. They're of a juvenile pigeon guillemot (an Auk and type of Murre), i.e., a seabird. I also try to start a different size board that I do not give myself a time limit for. Next week, it's either wolves or pelicans, I'll decide in the morning. Here's the "extra" piece I'm working on. The guillemot photo did not come out tonight so I'll re-photograph it tomorrow after I've sprayed it.

I Love Border Collies

I love Border Collies, especially the Hob Nob BCs. I know I don't have the temperament to live with one properly (unless it's extremely elderly), but I do enjoy their intensity, energy, and personalities. A BC person posted a photo she had taken of her BC and granted me permission to draw it. It's magical. I'm doing a 5x7 on an 8x10 board. Here's the first work in progress.

New Years Resolution-Alison Stanfield

Today is the second. Last night, I did take the time to open Alison Stanfield's book "I'd Rather Be In the Studio" and read the first chapter. Tonight I will take action on it.